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"Spoken like a true doctor," he said, rolling his eyes. "You're playing with fire."
I wasn't. He was ridiculous. Avery and I had broken up more than ten years ago. Besides, there would be very little actual “living together.” I worked crazy hours, so I'd be at the hospital more than at the loft.
"Man, you can't lie to me," Travis said. "Check out that look on your face. You want to see Avery again."
"Why not? I'm sure it's going to be interesting to catch up."
"Hah! 'Catch up.' I'd make a bet, but there's no one here to bet with."
"You all are still betting?" I asked. My siblings and cousins started this habit a long time ago. It used to be fun, but since now it was about me, I wasn’t sure if I was thrilled.
"Only on special occasions."
"Why am I not part of that?"
"Because you told us you don't want to be part of the WhatsApp group. Remember, dickhead?"
That was true, but it had been for practical reasons. First, I'd been in a different time zone. And second, everyone textedconstantlyin that group. I couldn't keep up with it. At best I could check it only once a day, and by then it was overwhelming with over a hundred messages.
"I've always been the odd man out," I said.
"I agree," Travis agreed, and we laughed.
Almost everyone in my family went into business. My grandparents and parents had owned Maxwell Bookstores, a very successful chain of stores. They sold it many years ago, and each of my brothers had gone into business in one way or another. Tate owned wineries. Declan, the oldest, was a lawyer. Considering how much trouble anyone got into at any given time, it was good we had a lawyer in the family. Luke owned an architecture company. Both our cousins, Reese and Kimberly, worked with Travis in his hotel. Our brother Tyler was the only other odd man out like me. He was a pro hockey player.
I knew from an early age I wanted to be a doctor. It was my calling. I’d never regretted my choice.
I was the odd man out in another way too. I was the only single brother left. It was bizarre. When I left for Doctors Without Borders, all my brothers were single. Now they were all either engaged or married.
"You know what? I could ask everyone’s opinion in our WhatsApp group," Travis suggested.
"You really want to broadcast this, don’t you?” Man, he was such a smartass.
"Nah. It makes you uncomfortable, so I won't do it. But knowing our family, it's going to get out sooner rather than later."
"You and I are the only people who know. If it gets out, it's because you spilled the beans."
He grinned. "You know it."
I took out my phone and messaged Avery on Facebook. I'd wanted to see her again for years, but after she moved from Chicago, we'd lost track of each other. For a long time, I didn't think she'd want me to contact her anyway.
Sam: Hey! It’s been a while. Want to set up a time to visit the loft? Can’t wait to catch up.
